April Fools’ Day 2012 marks the 100 year anniversary since the amalgamation of Birkdale and Southport

APRIL Fools’ Day this year marks 100 years since Birkdale officially became part of Southport.

The controversial decision was not an entirely popular one when talks first began back in 1863.

Many Birkdale residents opposed the plans, however an inquiry took place and the board decided that Birkdale was to become a part of Southport.

This Sunday, April 1, is the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation.

Ralph Gregson, chairman of the Birkdale Civic Society, said: “One of the ways our society is commemorating this 100 year Anniversary is leading the programme of restoring Rotten Row to somewhere nearer to its former glory.

“75% of Rotten Row as we now know it was in the original boundary of Birkdale.”

It all began in 1894 when Birkdale became an Urban District Council (UDC) in Lancashire and a council was elected.

Before this time, in the mid 1800s, Birkdale had been a local board having previously been under a jurisdiction of the parish vestry administered from distant Churchtown.

The landowner of Birkdale was the Weld–Blundell family and the council adopted the family coat of arms.

But tension was growing between the farmer dominated group, influenced by the local landowners, and the growing community of the Birkdale residents whose numbers were swelling by the continued growth of the area.

As the UDC grew in status, it continued to fiercely oppose the envious eyes of Southport who were jealous of its rapid growth and production.

Amalgamation was still on the agenda and the idea was frequently raised by Southport.

In 1902 serious talks took place but the plans were rejected by the Birkdale councillors. However not settling for a defeat, Southport applied to the Local Government Board and an inquiry was then set up.

The argument for Southport’s case was that Birkdale was a suburb of the town.

They said that it depended upon its shops and entertainment and it had no art gallery or public library. Councillors urged the panel that it could be more economically managed by a single authority.

This was supported by a 75% response, but more than 80% of Birkdale residents voted against it including Charles Weld–Blundell , who was the landowner of the whole of Birkdale and Ainsdale, as well as part of Southport.

The announcement of the board’s decision was a tense moment for people across the town.

They decided that amalgamation was the only way forward. And so on April Fools’ Day April 1912 Birkdale officially joined Southport.